Slip with multi piece button and system

ABSTRACT

A segmented button for a slip of a downhole tool comprising a plurality of segments affixed to one another. A slip for a downhole tool including a slip body, a recess in the slip body, and a button having a plurality of segments in the recess. A downhole system including a borehole in a subsurface formation, a string and/or wireline in the borehole, and a slip in the borehole, the slip including a slip body, a recess in the slip body, and a button having a plurality of segments in the recess.

BACKGROUND

In the resource recovery industry anchoring configurations for tools, including plugs, often include one or more wedges known in the industry as “slips”. Slips often include ridges thereon such as wickers or other features designed to dig into a casing or tubular member in which the slip(s) are to be set. Also common are “buttons”, which are relatively small pieces of material that may be mounted to a slip using an adhesive such as epoxy or braze. Buttons are sometimes axially short and mounted relatively near the surface of the slips but in some cases of material of slips, it is known in the industry that axially longer buttons are a better choice for strength. Unfortunately, however, longer buttons also come with drawbacks related to drilling out the tools anchored by slips having long buttons.

SUMMARY

An embodiment of a segmented button for a slip of a downhole tool including a plurality of segments affixed to one another.

An embodiment of a slip for a downhole tool including a slip body, a recess in the slip body, and a button having a plurality of segments in the recess.

An embodiment of a downhole system including a borehole in a subsurface formation, a string and/or wireline in the borehole, and a slip in the borehole, the slip including a slip body, a recess in the slip body, and a button having a plurality of segments in the recess.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a slip with a segmented button;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a segmented button;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a button created by additive manufacture and showing a honeycomb at an interface; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a wellbore system including the slip with a segmented button as illustrated in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures.

Referring to FIG. 1, a slip 2 for a downhole tool having a slip body 4 with a recess 6 therein for acceptance of an axially extended button 8 or 10. Such slips are generally made of softer materials such as phenolic compounds that tend to fracture less if the button(s) is (are) deeply embedded therein. Those of skill in the art are familiar with such slips and their materials and therefore no specific disclosure is needed with regard to the slip itself. Buttons, on the other hand, are made of hard materials such as tungsten carbide, iron, steel such as buttons cut from a case hardened steel rod, ceramic buttons, etc. Those of skill in the art are familiar with one-piece buttons and their materials as well such that specific discussion thereof would be superfluous.

What those of skill in the art are not familiar with, still referring to FIG. 1, is that as disclosed herein the button 8 includes a number of segments 12 a, 12 b, 12 c, and 12 d and the button 10 includes a number of segments 14 a, 14 b, 14 c, 14 d and 14 e. Each set of segments together extends for an axial length that a prior art one-piece long button would have done for the equivalent situation and slip material. More or fewer segments may be used for either of button 8 or 10 and one or more buttons 8 or 10 may be used in particular assemblies. The segments 12 a, 12 b, 12 c, and 12 d and 14 a, 14 b, 14 c, 14 d and 14 e may be individual components adhered or affixed together with for example a mechanical adhesive (where material of adhesive integrates with micro or macro scale roughness of a subject surface) or chemical adhesive (chemical interaction such as ionic or covalent bonding for example). Mechanical or chemical adhesives contemplated include epoxy, braze, solder polymers, thermopolymers, cements, etc. Segments 12 a, 12 b, 12 c, and 12 d and 14 a, 14 b, 14 c, 14 d and 14 may also be affixed magnetically or segments 12 a, 12 b, 12 c, and 12 d and 14 a, 14 b, 14 c, 14 d and 14 e may actually be one piece of material that is conditioned to break easily relative to the material of each segment. It is to be understood that for embodiments wherein segments are individual components, it is contemplated not only that each segment may be affixed to each other in a button 8 or 10 but also contemplated that the segments are deposited into the recess 6 without any type of affixation and maintained therein by affixing the last segment to be placed at the recess 6. This embodiment is fully functional since the buttons 8, 10 are loaded only in compression as long as the segments cannot fall out of the recess 6 (since the last one is affixed to the slip body 4), the function of the buttons 8 or 10 is realized. For embodiments where a single piece of material represents all of button 8 or 10, segments will be formed by partially removing material from the button at interfaces 16 between segments. This will facilitate the formation of the individual segments upon rupture of the remailing material at the interfaces 16 (see FIG. 2). Removal of material at the interfaces 16 may be by cutting through most of the material at the interface 16. The portion of the material left intact may be at an edge, at a center or anywhere else at the interface. Such a cut could be created with a band saw or similar. Similarly, the removal of material at interfaces 16 may be by cross drilling the button 8, 10 to create weakened areas to lateral forces. Alternatively, the cuts could be made using a lathe whereby a small portion of intact material is left at a central location of interface 16. Regardless of how the material at interfaces 16 is removed, the button 8 or 10 will remain strong in compression along its axis, meaning that the button will have its intended effect of engaging a tubular structure in which the slip 2 is set while simultaneously being less strong with regard to a force placed thereon with a vector intersecting the longitudinal axis of buttons 8 or 10. Stated alternatively, the button 8 or 10 will easily separate into segments with a side load even though it is strong in compression along its axis as noted above.

In another embodiment, referring to FIG. 3, the button 8 (or 10) may be formed through an additive manufacture process whereby the segments 12 a, 12 b, 12 c, and 12 d are formed in a relatively stronger matrix while areas between segments are formed in a relatively weaker matrix so that while each button segment 12 a, 12 b, 12 c, and 12 d is strong in its own right. This may be effected by manufacturing the segments from a first density of the material used and the interfaces 16 between the segments from a lesser density of the material used. Each segment will relatively easily separate from the others when subjected to loading other than along the longitudinal axis of button 8 or 10.

Configuring a button 8 or 10 as a number of segments as illustrated and described above facilitates drilling of the anchored tool after its utility has ended. Long buttons damage drilling apparatus and can become stuck causing need for a fishing operation. A plurality of the segments as described however do not inherently create the problems for drilling that a long button causes.

Referring to FIG. 4, a downhole system 20 is illustrated. The system 20 includes a borehole 22 that is formed in a subsurface formation 24. A string 26 and/or wireline 28 is disposed in the borehole 22, the downhole system 20 further including a slip 2 having buttons 8 or 10 therein as described herein.

Set forth below are some embodiments of the foregoing disclosure:

Embodiment 1

A segmented button for a slip of a downhole tool including a plurality of segments affixed to one another.

Embodiment 2

The segmented button as in any prior embodiment wherein the segments are affixed with an adhesive.

Embodiment 3

The segmented button as in any prior embodiment wherein the segments are affixed by epoxy.

Embodiment 4

The segmented button as in any prior embodiment wherein the segments are affixed by brazing.

Embodiment 5

The segmented button as in any prior embodiment wherein the segments are affixed by intact material remaining after removal of material from an interface.

Embodiment 6

The segmented button as in any prior embodiment wherein the button exhibits greater strength longitudinally along its axis than laterally to its axis.

Embodiment 7

A slip for a downhole tool including a slip body, a recess in the slip body, and a button having a plurality of segments in the recess.

Embodiment 8

The slip as in any prior embodiment wherein at least one segment of the plurality of segments is affixed to the slip body.

Embodiment 9

The slip as in any prior embodiment wherein the plurality of segments are affixed to one another.

Embodiment 10

The slip as in any prior embodiment wherein the plurality of segments are affixed to one another by adhesive.

Embodiment 11

The slip as in any prior embodiment wherein the plurality of segments are affixed to one another by braze.

Embodiment 12

The slip as in any prior embodiment wherein the plurality of segments are connected to one another by a portion of intact material.

Embodiment 13

The slip as in any prior embodiment wherein the plurality of segments form a single piece of material with differing density of segments and interfaces between segments.

Embodiment 14

The slip as in any prior embodiment wherein the plurality of segments form a single piece of material with cuts at interfaces between segments.

Embodiment 15

A downhole system including a borehole in a subsurface formation, a string and/or wireline in the borehole, and a slip in the borehole, the slip including a slip body, a recess in the slip body, and a button having a plurality of segments in the recess.

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. Further, it should be noted that the terms “first,” “second,” and the like herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another. The modifier “about” used in connection with a quantity is inclusive of the stated value and has the meaning dictated by the context (e.g., it includes the degree of error associated with measurement of the particular quantity).

The teachings of the present disclosure may be used in a variety of well operations. These operations may involve using one or more treatment agents to treat a formation, the fluids resident in a formation, a wellbore, and/or equipment in the wellbore, such as production tubing. The treatment agents may be in the form of liquids, gases, solids, semi-solids, and mixtures thereof. Illustrative treatment agents include, but are not limited to, fracturing fluids, acids, steam, water, brine, anti-corrosion agents, cement, permeability modifiers, drilling muds, emulsifiers, demulsifiers, tracers, flow improvers etc. Illustrative well operations include, but are not limited to, hydraulic fracturing, stimulation, tracer injection, cleaning, acidizing, steam injection, water flooding, cementing, etc.

While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims. Also, in the drawings and the description, there have been disclosed exemplary embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms may have been employed, they are unless otherwise stated used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention therefore not being so limited. 

1. A segmented button for a slip of a downhole tool comprising a plurality of segments stacked atop one another.
 2. The segmented button as claimed in claim 1 wherein the segments are affixed with an adhesive.
 3. The segmented button as claimed in claim 1 wherein the segments are affixed by epoxy.
 4. The segmented button as claimed in claim 1 wherein the segments are affixed by brazing.
 5. The segmented button as claimed in claim 1 wherein the segments are affixed by intact material remaining after removal of material from an interface.
 6. The segmented button as claimed in claim 1 wherein the button exhibits greater strength longitudinally along its axis than laterally to its axis.
 7. A slip for a downhole tool comprising: a slip body; a recess in the slip body; and a button having a plurality of segments stacked atop one another in the recess.
 8. The slip as claimed in claim 7 wherein at least one segment of the plurality of segments is affixed to the slip body.
 9. The slip as claimed in claim 7 wherein the plurality of segments are affixed to one another.
 10. The slip as claimed in claim 9 wherein the plurality of segments are affixed to one another by adhesive.
 11. The slip as claimed in claim 9 wherein the plurality of segments are affixed to one another by braze.
 12. The slip as claimed in claim 7 wherein the plurality of segments are connected to one another by a portion of intact material.
 13. The slip as claimed in claim 7 wherein the plurality of segments form a single piece of material with differing density of segments and interfaces between segments.
 14. The slip as claimed in claim 7 wherein the plurality of segments form a single piece of material with cuts at interfaces between segments.
 15. A downhole system comprising: a borehole in a subsurface formation; a string and/or wireline in the borehole; and a slip in the borehole, the slip comprising: a slip body; a recess in the slip body; and a button having a plurality of segments stacked atop one another in the recess. 